Sen. John Cornyn criticizes the signing of UN Arms Treaty

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn blasted the U.S. signing of the UN’s Arms Trade Treaty.

Secretary of State John Kerry signed the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty Wednesday, which will regulate the trade of conventional arms internationally.

Shortly afterward, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, released a critical press release, stating that the U.N. pact is the “latest in a long line of the Obama Administration’s attempts to trounce on the constitutional rights of law-abiding Texans and Americans across the country.”

Cornyn said the newly signed treaty is in violation of the Second Amendment.

“I’d like to see the U.N. try to send inspectors to the Texas State Rifle Association’s annual gathering,” Cornyn said. “Law-abiding Texans who are in the market for an imported shotgun, pistol or rifle ought to be very concerned by the Administration’s move today, and Texans can be assured I’ll be fighting ratification of this treaty every step of the way.”

After signing the treaty, Kerry said it would not reduce anyone’s freedom.

“The treaty recognizes the freedom of both individuals and states to obtain, possess, and use arms for legitimate purposes,” he said. Kerry added that the purpose of the treaty is to secure the lives of Americans.

“This is about keeping weapons out of the hands of terrorists and rogue actors. This is about reducing the risk of international transfers of conventional arms that will be used to carry out the world’s worst crimes.”

According to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, 110 other countries have already signed the treaty, including France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. See the full list of signatories here.

According to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the treaty will not do any of the following: interfere with domestic arms commerce or the right to bear arms in member states; ban the export of any type of weapon; harm states’ legitimate right to self-defense; or undermine national arms regulation standards already in place.